Gravel pack assembly having a flow restricting device and relief valve for gravel pack dehydration

Abstract

Described herein are gravel pack assemblies capable of performing complete gravel pack jobs when flow restricting devices, such as inflow control devices (“ICD”), are utilized. A gravel pack assembly includes a well screen attached to a flow restricting device and a relief valve. The relief valve is positioned in parallel with the flow restricting device so that the relief valve may provide an alternative path for fluid during dehydration of the gravel pack slurry, thus allowing extra fluid flow through the completion string during the gravel pack operation only.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A gravel pack assembly positioned along a downhole string, comprising:
 a well screen; 
 a flow restricting device in fluid communication with the well screen to thereby control fluid flow through the well screen; and 
 a relief valve in fluid communication with the well screen and set to open at a pressure sufficient to dehydrate gravel pack slurry to thereby provide an alternative path for gravel pack fluid during a gravel pack operation. 
 
     
     
       2. A gravel pack assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the flow restricting device is an inflow control device, an adjustable inflow control device, or an autonomous inflow control device. 
     
     
       3. A gravel pack assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the flow restricting device is positioned at a first end of the well screen; and 
 the relief valve is position at a second end of the well screen opposite the first end, thereby forming a fluid passageway between the flow restricting device and relief valve. 
 
     
     
       4. A gravel pack assembly as defined in  claim 3 , wherein:
 the flow restricting device comprises:
 an inlet port in fluid communication with the fluid passageway; and 
 an outlet port in fluid communication with a bore of the downhole string; and the relief valve comprises: 
 an inlet port in fluid communication with the fluid passageway; and 
 an outlet port in fluid communication with the bore of the downhole string. 
 
 
     
     
       5. A gravel pack assembly as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the relief valve further comprises:
 a piston in fluid communication with the inlet port of the relief valve; and 
 a spring that biases the piston in a position which prevents fluid flow through the outlet port of the relief valve. 
 
     
     
       6. A gravel pack assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pressure sufficient to dehydrate gravel pack slurry is 500 psi-1000 psi. 
     
     
       7. A gravel pack assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the relief valve is set to close during production of well fluids. 
     
     
       8. A method for gravel packing a well, the method comprising:
 deploying a gravel pack assembly along a downhole string, the gravel pack assembly comprising: 
 a well screen; 
 a flow restricting device in fluid communication with the well screen to thereby control fluid flow through the well screen; and 
 a relief valve in fluid communication with the well screen to thereby provide an alternative path for gravel pack fluid during a gravel pack operation; 
 flowing a gravel pack slurry about the well screen; 
 opening the relief valve by applying a pressure to the relief valve sufficient to dehydrate the gravel pack slurry; 
 flowing the gravel pack fluid of the gravel pack slurry through the well screen and the relief valve, and into a bore of the downhole string. 
 
     
     
       9. A method as defined in  claim 8 , wherein flowing the gravel pack slurry further comprises flowing the gravel pack fluid through the flow restricting device. 
     
     
       10. A method as defined in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 closing the relief valve; and 
 producing production fluid through the flow restricting device. 
 
     
     
       11. A method as defined in  claim 10 , wherein closing the relief valve comprises reducing a pressure applied to the relief valve. 
     
     
       12. A method for gravel packing a well, the method comprising:
 deploying a gravel pack assembly along a downhole string, the gravel pack assembly comprising:
 a well screen; 
 a flow restricting device and 
 a relief valve; 
 
 flowing a gravel pack slurry about the well screen and relief valve; 
 flowing at least a portion of the gravel pack slurry through the relief valve and into a bore of the downhole string; 
 reducing a pressure applied to the relief valve; 
 closing the relief valve in response to the reduced pressure; and 
 producing well fluids through the flow restricting device and into the bore of the downhole string. 
 
     
     
       13. A method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein flowing at least a portion of the gravel pack slurry through the relief valve further comprises:
 applying a pressure to the relief valve sufficient to dehydrate the gravel pack slurry; and 
 opening the relief valve in response to the pressure, thus allowing at least a portion of the gravel pack slurry to flow into the bore of the downhole string. 
 
     
     
       14. A method as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising flowing at least a portion of the gravel pack slurry through the flow restricting device and into the bore of the downhole string. 
     
     
       15. A method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein flowing at least a portion of the gravel pack slurry through the relief valve further comprises opening the relief valve to establish fluid communication into the bore of the downhole string. 
     
     
       16. A method as defined in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 closing the relief valve; and 
 producing well fluids through the flow restricting device and into the bore of the downhole string. 
 
     
     
       17. A method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the flow restricting device is an inflow control device, an adjustable inflow control device, or an autonomous inflow control device.